Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to explore how a dyslexic student, Davide, an Italian 17 year-old boy has been trying for a year to overcome his difficulties in learning and speaking Aviation English, as a basic course subject at his secondary school.

Teaching English as a foreign language to dyslexic students is a big challenge to educators who are expected to have, not only the language competences, but also pedagogical and didactical tools in managing class or students with these kind of difficulties, in order to arise much more motivation in learning a foreign language. It is a fact well acknowledged that the lack of motivational strategies can cause a failure in the learning process of students and, in particular, it may cause a sense of frustration in the English language training of dyslexics.
“Dyslexia is a slight disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading and spelling” (Monolingual Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary). To make it clear and simple, dyslexia alters the way the brain connects written words to the verbal sounds that spell those words. Such connections are essential to all the four language skills, that is reading, writing, listening and speaking and, therefore vital to young learners in order to succeed in their life and working career.

Much has been said about this topic and the teaching methods to help students in supporting their needs and pursuing their language learning. Nonetheless, teaching Aviation English to dyslexics is an additional challenge as speaking is the most important language skill to be learned by future air traffic controllers or airline pilots and, unfortunately, it is the last ability dyslexics struggle with.

To meet Davide's needs in memorizing the right words' spelling when speaking in public, English advertisement material was adopted. Young students are fascinating by the web tv and this method turned to be a successful tool in improving Davide's learning style.

This study will describe the beginning of Davide's Aviation English learning activity, the factors of his disability and, consequently, his demotivation in his language understanding. Finally, after a year of interviews, lessons and use of research instruments like questionnaires and proficiency test, the results show that Davide has acquired more confidence in his capabilities and furthermore in his oral production that was the goal to be reached as he wanted to enter International Aviation Academy and become a pilot.

Keywords:

Dyslexia, learning, speaking English, Aviation English.